Alves to hold Verratti at PSG?

Has Dani Alves’ recent move to PSG thrown a spanner in the works for Marco Verratti and his protracted move to Barcelona? He’s urged the Italian to spurn a move to the Camp Nou in order to win the long coveted Champions League with the Parisians. He is still Barca’s top target this summer – and it isn’t often that they don’t get their man. Wishful thinking on Alves’ part or will he appeal to Verratti’s sense of romance?

Wilshere pursuing World Cup call-up

Jack Wilshere was once, in the not too distant past, adorned as the future of English football. It hasn’t exactly turned out like that for obvious reasons – to say he’s been unlucky with injuries is an understatement. It’s been miserable, but he proved he wasn’t totally made of glass last season after a decent spell with AFC Bournemouth, and now Sampdoria are offering him a chance to reinvent his career in Serie A. £9 million is the price being floated about, which would be a steal if he can stay fit. He’s still only 25, and with the World Cup next year he’ll be looking for some serious game time. Could he stay fit for any length of time though?

Zlatan back to United?

Speaking of staying fit. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has apparently had a remarkable recovery from a knee injury that saw Manchester United opt to refuse him a new deal early on in the summer. LA Galaxy and Los Angeles FC were looking like the teams who would slug it out for his signature until his recovery, and now it looks like the big Swede will turn down both in order to make a surprise return to Old Trafford, just weeks after being released.

The scenes if Wenger stole Matic from Mourinho…

Jose Mourinho has been giving Nemanja Matic the glad eye all summer, figuratively of course, but United have been slow to pounce, and now it looks like Juventus could come in to usurp them. With Tiemoue Bakayoko all set to sign on the dotted line with Chelsea – Matic should be free to leave the Champions’ now bulging squad. It’s thought Old Trafford is Matic’s desired destination – but it will take a bid of at least £40 million if Mou is to get his man. Arsenal are said to be outsiders in the battle to secure the Serb’s signature. Now that would be a marquee signing of the type their fans crave, should Arsene Wenger pull it off.

Belotti heavily courted by Milan

Could at long last the balance of footballing power be changing in Italy? Juventus have been strong for years but beyond that, its been slim pickings on the European stage. Leonardo Bonucci’s surprise move this week to AC Milan could be a watershed moment in Italian football. The Rossoneri are also hoping to pip Chelsea to the signature of Torino striker, Andrea Belotti. The fee being bandied about is certainly in the ‘eye-watering’ levels. Think 100 million Euros.

Belotti was the first striker under the age of 24 to score 24 goals in a Serie A campaign since a certain Andriy Shevchenko was at his peak for Milan in 1999-00. It really would be fitting if he made the move to Milan, and made them a dominant force in Italy and Europe once again. Watch this space.

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